How Margaret Thatcher's Falklands gamble paid off | Politics | The ...
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... nds-gamble
Apr 9, 2013 - The Falklands war of April-June 1982 was the turning point in Mrs Thatcher's premiership, indeed in her political career. The previous October, the Tory party conference had been alive with dissent. The so-called "wets" were openly conspiring against her.

UK's nuclear deterrent infrastructure 'not fit for purpose', say MPs
Trident faces budget and skills gaps at time of international uncertainty, plus supply threats due to Brexit
Rajeev Syal
Fri 21 Sep 2018 00.01 BST

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A guard on HMS Vengeance, a Vanguard-class nuclear submarine

The Ministry of Defence is at serious risk of failing to run a working nuclear deterrent, parliament’s spending watchdog has concluded.

A report by the public accounts committee found that past decisions delaying maintenance at the MoD’s 13 sites that support nuclear submarines had left the programme “not fit for purpose”.

The Trident nuclear missile programme could also be adversely affected by Brexit because of the reliance on imported material from EU countries and difficulties bringing engineers from the continent, Friday’s report said.

Defence chiefs must bridge a £2.9bn black hole and fill a skills gap if they are to maintain the current deterrent, according to the influential cross-party committee.

Macdoc wrote:It's the world's biggest economy, it's the world's biggest debtor nation....it went from the largest creditor nation in the 80s to a place that is shredding into third world, where military bases have food kitchens, infrastructure is decaying

zulumoose wrote:I think the term "food kitchen" is intended to mean charity food, like "soup kitchen"

Macdoc wrote:Oh I'm sure the locals are grateful ...no denying that and the opportunity came up and Thatcher capitalized on it......I don't think she went looking for it.

Argentina has a case as well but this is what the UN is for in all instances.....not warfare.

Macdoc wrote:Buffer zone ...blah blah, sovereign sphere etc - see S China sea

Contemporary Falkland Islanders overwhelmingly prefer to remain British. They gained full British citizenship with the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983, after British victory in the Falklands War.[...]

In March 2013 the Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly in a referendum for the territory to remain British. Argentina dismissed this referendum.[64][65] The British Government urged Argentina and other countries to respect the islanders' wishes.[66]

Britain rests its case on its long-term administration of the Falklands and on the principle of self-determination for the islanders, who are almost all of British descent.

LEADERS

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor

The islands are self-governing, although foreign affairs and defence matters are handled by the British government.

There is no party-political activity on the islands.

A new constitution to enhance the powers of the Executive Council came into force on 1 January 2009.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18425572

Scot Dutchy wrote:I think Argentina will have something to say about that when the UK applies to join the WTO.

In the weeks that preceded the UK’s EU referendum, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo broke his silence over the UK leaving the EU (Brexit), first with the Financial Times, followed by Reuters, the Guardian, and others. One of his key points was that the UK would face complex talks in the World Trade Organization. What did he mean?

https://www.ictsd.org/opinion/nothing-s ... ost-brexit

Scot Dutchy wrote:Read about the WTO. It is a club and you have to get agreement on your trade schedules. Anyone can object.